Joan As Police Woman

To be completely honest, Joan Wasser has always been more interesting than the music she's created under the moniker of Joan As Police Woman. From her relationship with Jeff Buckley to her time with numerous bands, including the Dambuilders, Antony and the Johnsons and Those Bastard Souls, she made more memorable music as part of an ensemble than by herself. But album number three, The Deep Field, suggests that things might be changing. Although not dramatically different from her earlier records, Wasser is beginning to show a refreshing amount of confidence. That could be due to the fact that while its predecessors were both produced during periods of mourning in her life, resulting in overwrought songs, The Deep Field has a fuller sound where Wasser's vocals slink their way through some laidback soul jams that find some middle ground between Gayngs and Fiona Apple. It works remarkably well and free of the unrelenting sadness, at long last, Joan As Police Woman finally is as good in practise as on paper.